How To Get Around Greece – Ferries, Flights, Car Rentals, Tours And More

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How to get around Greece and the Greek islands. Includes information on flights, ferries, car rentals, tours, buses, sailing cruises, and much more!

How to get around Greece - Ferries, flights, buses and more

Getting around Greece

“How to get around Greece” is one of the questions that always come up in Greece travel groups and forums. As if “where to go in Greece” wasn’t a difficult question to answer, there is also the logistics of traveling around Greece! 

I’m Vanessa from Athens, and I’ve put together this guide to explain the different options of getting around Greece and the Greek island. I’ve included information on transportation by road, sea and air, to help you plan your Greek vacation on your own.  

Vanessa in Santorini How to get around Greece

1. Domestic flights within Greece

Often, the quickest way to travel around Greece is by plane. Greece has a total of 40 airports, with the majority located within an hour’s reach of Athens. Therefore, if you are landing in Athens, you can check if the island you want to visit has an airport, and fly there straight after you land. 

Many of the island airports, e.g. in Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu, Rhodes and Crete, also accept direct international flights from several European airports during the summer months.  

It’s important to note that there are very few direct flights between the Greek islands. Usually, if you want to fly from one island to another, you’ll have to connect through Athens. However, if the islands you are planning to visit are geographically close to each other, it might be best to go by sea.

For example, Santorini and Milos are in the same island group, and the direct ferry between them only takes 2 hours. You could also fly, with a stop in Athens, but that would prove not only more time consuming, but also pricier.

On the other hand, e.g. Santorini and Corfu are on different sides of the country. The only practical way to travel between them is to fly, with a layover in Athens. 

Flight prices increase closer to the time of the flight, and CAN get sold out. So, if you are planning to take a domestic flight in Greece, it’s best to book it as early as you can. 

For more information on domestic flights within Greece, have a look at these two guides:

How to get around Greece - Map of the Greek island groups

2. Ferries in Greece

Greece has a large network of ferries that connect the various islands. There are several ferry companies, with some of the best known ones being Blue Star Ferries, Sea Jets and Minoan Lines. I’ve used hundreds of ferries in my life and always look forward to the next ferry trip!

Ferries are usually the easiest, though not always the quickest, way to island hop between islands of the same group. Ferries are also the only way to get to more remote islands which don’t have an airport.

In order to find ferry routes and book your ferry tickets, you can use search engines like Ferryscanner or Ferryhopper that bring up all ferry companies and direct / indirect ferry routes. Note that, while some ferry routes are announced a few months in advance, others are only listed a few weeks before the trip.

As not all Greek islands are directly connected to each other, you will have to do a bit of research when you are planning your trip – sometimes, flying between your islands of choice might be better.

Have a look at the following guides for some more insight into ferries in Greece:

You can get around the Greek islands by ferry

3. Tours in Greece

Tours, cruises and other organized activities are a fantastic way to see the highlights and most popular destinations in Greece. Apart from lots of insider knowledge, you’ll also get to interact with locals and other travelers.

I’ve participated in a few organized tours, activities and sailing trips in Greece, and they’ve always been among the highlights of my holiday. For example, kayaking in Mykonos and kayaking in Rhodes were both a fantastic way to see the coastline, and also learn more about the islands.

You can find all sorts of tours in Greece – from half-day activities to multi-day trips.

Here are some exceptional tours in popular destinations in Greece that you can book in advance:

Here are some more of the best tours and activities all around Greece, grouped by area!

Sailing trip to Kleftiko Bay in Milos

4. Buses in Greece

There is a huge network of buses that connect Athens to many major cities and towns in mainland Greece, for example popular places like Nafplion, Ancient Delphi or Ancient Olympia. Also, all the bigger islands each have their own local transport system, with routes varying by month or even week.

All around Greece, these buses are known as KTEL buses. They are all run by different companies, and finding the relevant information online isn’t always straightforward, nor are all websites in English. 

Most times, you can use Google to find local buses in an area or island by using the word “KTEL” and the area you are interested in. For example, KTEL Santorini will bring up the local bus in Santorini, or KTEL Delphi will bring the Athens – Delphi route. 

As an indication, here are some links to popular bus routes:

In case you are wondering what the word “KTEL” means, it’s just an acronym that describes the Association of Bus Operators. 

You can get around Greece on the KTEL buses

5. Trains in Greece

The train service in Greece connects Athens with certain cities on the mainland. The most popular ones are Thessaloniki and Kalambaka, the main town near the Meteora Monasteries. 

At time of writing, the Athens to Kalambaka route is partially serviced by replacement buses and the one-way trip takes about 5 hours. This is why many visitors choose to take a day trip from Athens to Meteora instead.

Here is some more information about the trains in Greece.

How to get around Greece - Train

6. Taxis and transfers in Greece

Taxis and transfers are a convenient way to get around if public transportation is not available, or is unsuitable for your needs. There are taxis everywhere in Greece, and their colors vary by area – as an example, taxis in Athens are yellow.

When you have a planned route, e.g. from the Athens airport to the center, it’s usually best to pre-book a transfer, so you know someone is picking you up and taking you where you need to go. I recommend Welcome Pickups, a company I’ve used extensively in several countries. In my experience, their drivers are courteous, punctual, and they speak perfect English.

Unfortunately, some taxi drivers in Athens, and also other parts of Greece, still try to scam foreign visitors, which is why pre-booking a transfer is a good idea. Please have a look at my guide on how to avoid taxi scams in Athens for some more insight.

A yellow taxi in Athens Greece

7. Car rentals in Greece

If you like to explore independently, the best way to travel around Greece is to rent a car. This way you won’t have to rely on buses, trains, transfers or taxis, and you can stop wherever you want for a break or to take photos. 

The best website to pre-book a vehicle for your Greek vacation is Discover Cars. They are very competitively priced, and you get to read the small print and add any extras in advance of your holiday, which will save you lots of time.

In addition to that, there are usually plenty of local agencies everywhere you go. However, you should know that cars CAN get sold out during peak season, even on islands with many agencies, so consider pre-booking instead rather than leaving it for the last minute.

Tip: If you are going to multiple islands, book a vehicle on each destination. Many local agencies won’t let you travel on a ferry with their vehicle – plus, there is no reason to pay extra to bring a rental car on a ferry.

Here is more information on driving in Greece.

A car on a dirt road in Milos Greece

Bonus: Getting around Athens

Athens is a big city, but the historic center is quite compact. If you are happy to walk, you could explore central Athens entirely on foot or take a walking tour!

For longer distances, you can take the Athens metro, taxi, or a pre-booked transfer, as discussed earlier. I strongly advise against driving in Athens – let alone trying to find a parking spot 🙂

Here is my full guide on how to get around Athens. 

A pedestrian road in Athens Greece

Vanessa from Real Greek Experiences

Hi! I’m Vanessa from Athens and I love travelling around Greece and the Greek islands. I hope this guide on ways to get around Greece was helpful. Follow me on my social media: 

 

 

 

Best ways to travel around Greece and the Greek islands

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